Applicator container



Dec. 25, 1962 T. J. BRADY ET AL 3,069,718

APPLICATOR CONTAINER Filed Nov. 5, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. 7770/2745 Braajy Y Verna/7 77w 2 II I C% ATRNEY.

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Dec. 25, 1962 T. J. BRADY ET AL APPLICATOR CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 5, 1959 United States Patent 3,069,718 APPLICATOR CONTAINER Thomas J. Brady, Kansas City, Mo., and Vernon R. Schulze, Livingston, NJ. Filed Nov. 5, 1959, Ser. No. 851,109 6 Claims. (Cl. 15-571) This invention relates to dispensers employing a roller element to dispense the liquid contents thereof and refers more particularly to improvements in dispensers employing an elliptical primary roller element for the dispensing of the dispenser contents.

Roll-on dispensers employing a spherical ball-like applicator in a socket are well-known to the art. Typical patents showing this art include the patent to Holler, 2,883,690, issued April 28, 1959 for Fluid Dispensing Ball Applicator; the patent to Whitney, 2,823,403, issued February 18, 1958 for Ball and Socket Plastic Fitment; the patent to Ackerman, 2,807,817, issued October 1, 1957 for Liquid Dispenser and Applicator; the patent to Thomas, 2,749,566, issued June 12, 1956 for Dispenser; the patent to De Brock, 2,700,784, issued February 1, 1955 for Ball-Type Liquid Applicator and Closure for Same; and the patent to Testa, 1,977,414, issued October 16, 1934 for Perfume Dispenser.

When applying liquids (such as deodorants) of various sorts to areas of the human skin or the like, it has been discovered desirable in numerous applications to employ a roller element which is elliptical in side View or cross section. The elliptical form or construction provides the rotating feature so desirable in all of the roll-on applicators and, additionally, provides the wide area contact desired for applying deodorants and the like. However, the problem of adequately sealing an elliptical roller element in its seat (to prevent liquid flow from the dispenser when the top thereof is on) is very difficult, particularly when the seal is desired to be made in a plastic seat for the roller element, which plastic seat is relatively deformable in itself and, also, not fabricable or formable beyond a certain level of accuracy.- The more elongate the ellipse and the more flexible the material of the plastic seat, the less likelihood of obtaining a uniform satisfactory seal. Various additive sealing constructions have been built into such plastic seats for an elliptical roller, but none have provided an effective seal under all necessary conditions. Additionally, it is desired to minimize the expense of the roll-on fitting as the dispenser and roll-on element are regarded as disposable items.

Therefore, an object of the instant invention is to provide means for scaling in adequate fashion an elliptical roller element for dispensing liquids from dispensers.

Another object of the invention is to provide such means for sealing which are simple in construction, relatively easy to manufacture and relatively inexpensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for sealing an elliptical roller which involve the combination of two rollers, one spherical or near spherical roller and the other an elliptical roller.

Another object of the invention is to provide an insert construction including an elliptical roller element, which insert is adapted to seal the dispenser against flow therefrom when the dispenser top is applied and dispense the liquid from the dispenser when the top is removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elliptical roller element for roller dispensers which will meet all of the seal tests of conventional spherical roller element roll-on dispensers as to temperature, pressure and inverted position sealing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a roll-on dispenser construction which combines the applicator features of an elliptical roller with the sealing features of a spherical roller.

3,069,718 Patented Dec. 25, 1962 Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description:

In the drawings, which form a part of the instant invention and are to be read in conjunction therewith, embodiments of the invention are shown and, in the various views, like numerals are employed to indicate like parts.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an elliptical roll-on dispenser embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side sectional view of the roll-on portion of the construction of FIG. 1, the roller elements in dispensing position.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, but with the top of the dispenser in place and the roller elements sealing the dispenser against passage of liquid therefrom.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, side, partly sectional view of a modification of the invention wherein a circumferential seal in the seat of the elliptical roller is not employed. The view illustrates the closed sealing relationship with the dispenser top on.

FIG. 6 is a View similar to that of FIG. 5 but with the dispenser top removed.

FIG. 7 is a view of a modified form of dispenser wherein a pair of elliptical rollers are employed, the view a fragmentary side elevation, partly sectional.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 14, inclusive, therein is shown a first form of the inventive construction. FIG. 1 shows the dispenser in normal storage position. The invention comprises, in combination, an elliptical roller element, a socket for the elliptical roller element, a second roller element, preferably of spherical or near spherical shape, and a socket for the second roller element. This combination of structure may be applied to and mounted on dispensers in a number of ways. The method of applying the roller element assembly to the dispenser illustrated is only typical and should not be construed as limiting.

Referring, then, to FIGS. 1-4, inclusive, the dispenser body proper is generally designated at 10, the dispenser top generally designated at 11 and the roller element fitment generally designated at 12. The body of the dispenser may be of any form or shape, but, as illustrated, is substantially rectangular in transverse cross section. The body 10 has a continuous side wall 10a (of polyethylene or like material) with an upper end wall 10b continuous with or fixed in sealing fashion thereto and a lower end Wall having an opening ltld formed centrally thereof. A circumferential groove 102 is for-med in the upper portion of the dispenser side wall 10a, the wall portion in which the groove is formed being optionally of greater thickness, if desired, for greater rigidity in engagement with the top.

Turning to the roller assembly construction, the socket 12a for the elliptical roller element '13, the latter formed of glass or other suitable material, is of such configuration as to sufliciently overlie and enclose (see FIGS. 3 and 2) portions of roller 13 as to prevent the falling out of element 13 in the operating position of FIG. 3, while permitting dispensing rotatory motion of the element 13 in socket 12a and providing suflicient clearance between element 13 and socket 12a to permit the dispenser liquid contents to freely surround the enclosed portion of element 13. Element 13 is elliptical in cross section along its greatest dimension and circular in cross section at right angles thereto (FIG. 2). Circumferential bead 12b may optionally be formed on the inner surface of socket 12a to aid in sealing the dispenser when the dispenser top is on, as seen in FIG. 2 and as to be described. However, it has been conclusively demonstrated that seal bead 12b alone is inadequate to uniformly and without fail provide an adequate seal under experienced storage.

and test conditions of temperature and pressure, when the socket 12a is of a typical semi-resilient plastic material, such as polyethylene.

In order to provide a completely adequate sealing means for the dispenser which will completely seal the dispenser against any discharge of its contents into the elliptical roller socket 12a when the dispenser top is on, or when the ellipitical roller is depressed against its socket, and also to provide an adequate flow channel for feed or liquid from the dispenser into the socket 12a, a second element 14 and socket are employed. Flange 120 is provided tor-med integral with socket 12a and surrounding opening 12d formed therein. Flange 12c is preferably sized to provide a friction or close fit within opening d in order that there will be no leakage of liquid or minimum leakage of liquid behind socket 1 2a from the dispenser. Various constructions may be employed to seal this point. However, this is not a part of the instant invention.

The inner end of flange 120 is inwardly turned as at 12f to define an opening and seat 12e of lesser internal diameter than the inside diameter of wall or flange 120. Secondary roller element 14 is preferably spherical in form, but may depart slightly from spherical form. Roller 14 may be formed of glass or other suitable rigid material as roller 13. The diameter of this element, if spherical, must be suflicient that, when element 13 is pressed closely toward its seat or sealing bead 12b, roller 14 will compact circumferentially against edge of opening or :seat 12s and provide a complete circumferential seal against any further liquid passing from the dispenser into flange 12c or socket 12a. The height or diameter of the element 14 also must be sufficiently great that it will seat in opening or seat 12e before roller element 13 seats or contacts bead 12b in order that an eflicient effective seal be provided.

It should be emphasized that the liquid being dispensed passes around element 14 and is not rolled from element 14 onto element 13 as a primary method of supply. FIG. 3 shows element 13 in operating position with element 14 away from its seat He, and with liquid surrounding both elements. While surface contact of element 14 with element 13 may cause rotation of the former therewith, this rotatory contact has little or no effect on the function of elliptical roller 13 as a dispenser.

A skirt 12g is preferably connected circu-mferentially to socket 12a and may have a bead 12h adapted to engage groove ltle whereby to fasten the roller element into and onto the dispenser body. Numerous fastening means and mechanisms may be employed to fasten the roller element to the dispenser in such manner as to secure it thereon and minimize leakage of liquid from the dispenser behind socket 12a. Only a typical operational mounting is shown which is not intended to be limiting. A circumferential head 12!? may be formed externally on skirt 12g to mount the dispenser top to be described.

Top 11 has side wall 11a, the latter congruent in form in transverse cross section with skirt 12g whereby to fit thereover and lower end wall 11b closing the lower end thereof. Wall 11b mounts internally thereof flanges or means 110 which operate to compact and force the elliptical roller in precise position toward elliptical socket 12a when the top is snapped on the dispenser. Groove 11d is formed internally of side wall 11a and circumferentially thereof to receive bead '12: whereby to snap top '11 on roller element 12. As previously mentioned, the connection of top 11 to dispenser 10 may be in various fashions, including, for example, a direct connection of the dispenser top to the dispenser body (not shown) rather than to skirt 12g. For the instant invention, the important feature is that top 11 carries the means 110 for compressing rollers 13 and 14 into sealing position, whereby the dispenser, when in its normal storage position of FIG. 1, is sealed against liquid flow from the dispenser body proper into seat 12a.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, therein is shown an identical construction to that of FIGS. 14, with the exception that bead 12b is not present in socket 121:. All parts of the construction of FIGS. 5 and 6 which are identical to those of FIGS. l4 are numbered the same, but primed. FIG. 5 shows the dispenser top in place forcing elliptical roller 13 toward its socket 12a and thereby forcing the spherical roller 14' into positive sealing seat engagement on edge 12c. Since no flow can take place around spherical ball 14, there is no problem of leakage into the socket 12a. The surface tension of liquid already in socket 12a aids in maintaining it in position so long as the seal is maintained by the spherical roller 14'. Also, Without a bead 12b roller 14' may be of lesser size to let roller 13 closer approach socket 12a. Ridges or means in top 11' position elliptical roller 13' in uniform spaced relationship to the seat 12a bearing on roller 14'. In the view of FIG. 6, it may be seen that a freer flow of liquid from the dispenser is obtained around elliptical roller 13 with the removal of bead 12b.

FIG. 7 shows a construction which is in all ways identical with that of FIGS. 5 and 6, with the exception that a second roller 15, slightly elliptical in vertical dimension, is employable in the place of truly spherical roller 14 or 14. Parts identical are numbered the same but double primed. As previously mentioned, it is not required (though preferred) that the secondary roller be spherical. However, it is required that it be of reduced size relative to the major elliptical roller and also of such form in the portion engaging the second seat or opening as to have a smaller and more nearly circular seat. The use of the elliptical second roller 15 also demonstrates that there is no substantial or significant transfer of liquid in rolling contact from the secondary roller to the primary roller as the primary roller in this case merely rotates without corresponding rotation of the secondary roller. One minor difficulty of this system, however, is that under prolonged use there might appear a wear groove on the primary elliptical roller. However, in the conventional short life of use of a commercial dispenser of this sort, such wear would not be significant in the case of the usual materials employed for the roll-er elements, such as glass. \Additionally, the form of the flange receiving the secondary roller 15 is slightly different from those previously described in that it is slightly more elongate, however, this would be the only distinction.

In assembly and operation of the dispenser illustrated, the secondary roller element 14, 14' or 15, is first inserted in its recess and the elliptical roller 13, 13 or 13" is then snapped into its seat 12a, etc. The entire roller fitment is then snapped .onto and into the lower wall 10c, etc. of the dispenser with head 12h engaging groove 1% and flange 12c inserted down into tightly fitting opening 10d. Sealing means of any sort may be applied around the opening 10d at the flange 120, if desired. The dispenser is generally and preferably in the upside down position before the insertion :of the roller assembly. With the insertion of the roller assembly, it may then be inverted in its normal position for use or top 11 may be snapped on. Top 11 serves as a base for mounting the dispenser in the seated position as in FIG. 1. With top '11 in position, elliptical roller 13 exerts sufficient force on secondary roller 14 or 15 to force it to circumferentially seat and'seal against flow of fluid from the dispenser body 10.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed Without reference to other features and subcornbinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A roller assembly for dispensing containers comprising in combination, a first roller element, a second roller element, a fitment including a first socket for the first roller element, said first socket opening out of the fitment and receiving the first roller element for rotation therein with a portion of the element extending out of the socket; portions of the socket closely engaging the first roller element to prevent the element from falling out of the socket; said first socket having a first opening therein, a second socket connected to the first socket and surrounding and communicating with said first opening in the first socket; said second roller element being positioned in said second socket and being sufiiciently large to extend through said first opening, said second socket having an opening therein of lesser size than the second roller element, said first roller element being movable in said first socket toward said second roller element to engage and move said second roller element into sealing engagement with said opening in said second socket; and said first roller element being elliptical in cross section along the axis of rotation of the first roller element in said first socket and said axis of rotation being greater in length than the second roller element along any dimension thereof.

2. A roller assembly as in claim 1 wherein the first roller element is elliptical in cross section along said axis of rotation thereof and substantially circular in cross section normal to said first dimension.

3. A roller assembly as in claim 1 wherein said second roller is spherical in form and the first roller is elliptical in cross section along said axis thereof and substantially circular in cross section normal to said dimension.

4. A roller assembly :as in claim 1 wherein said second roller is substantially circular in cross section along one dimension thereof and at least slightly elliptical in cross section normal to said one dimension.

5. A roller assembly as in claim 1 including a circumferential head in said first socket surrounding said first opening against which the first roller element is adapted to seat.

6. A dispensing container comprising a container body continuously enclosing a volume of space, said container body having an opening in one wall thereof, a roller assembly mounted on said container body comprising a first roller element, a fitment including: a first socket for the first roller element, said first socket opening out of said fitment and receiving the first roller element for rotation therein with a portion of said roller element extending out of the fitment, closely engaging portions of the socket maintaining the first roller element within the socket, said socket having a first opening therein, a second roller element, said second roller element being substantially circular in cross section along at least one dimension thereof, a second socket for said second roller element, said second socket having a second opening therein to receive said second roller element in sealing fashion, the second socket connected to the first socket and communicating therewith through said first opening in the first socket, said second roller element so sized relative to the second socket as to extend through the first opening of the first socket a sufficient distance whereby movement of the first roller element toward the first socket forces the second roller element into the opening in said second socket in sealing fashion with said opening, said first roller element being rotatable in said first socket about at least one axis thereof and being of substantially greater length along said axis than any dimension of said second roller element, said second socket extending into said container body opening and fitting therewithin, and means connecting said roller assembly to said container body so that contents of the container body may flow through the second opening when the latter is not sealed by the second roller element and into said first opening and first socket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 538,492 lASkCW Apr. 30, 1895 1,977,414 Testa Oct. 16, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 329,628 France June 5, 1903 962,771 France Dec. 12, 1949 

